With the Frontier Opening there will be a loud and continuous call to “send in the troops”. My thinking is there will be few Regency Army troops to send. So, how to fill the void?
1- Free lancers/contracted personnel
2- Complete mercenary groups
3- Planetary contingents from planets nearer the Frontier
Contracted personnel could be from all walks of life- retired or separated military/RQS veterans, paramilitary troops, etc. Mercenary groups will, I think, begin to play bigger roles once the colonizing begins in earnest, but at the time of the opening there could still be a bad taste in the mouths of the RQS from Antebellum times.
That leaves planetary armed forces. These forces have many advantages, especially those not quite up to the TL13-15 range. They are used to operating at a lower tech level (but still at a higher TL than 99% of the Wilds), and are not dependent on sophisticated operating and weapons systems that can’t be maintained in the environment of the Wilds without significant high tech logistical support. The troops will be used to living in more austere conditions than the TL 14-15 soldier or TL 15 marine (a TL 8 soldier/marine, living in a 20-person tent would feel in heaven if he/she had a dry place to sleep and a stove to keep them warm, while a TL 15 trooper would be horrified if they had to live like that…imagine, having to forage for firewood as a fuel source!). Any higher TL support provided by the Regency would be a bonus to them.
The Regency Senate would find it more palatable to spend the billions spent on the planetary soldiers, as it would be stimulating those economies by funding the logistics, payroll and medical care of the local soldiers and their families (ok, let’s be pragmatic- any $ not going to pay or equip the troops would end up in those Senators’ re-election funds).
I personally like the idea of the planetary forces acting similar to a National Guard, helping to augment the front-line units when needed, and helping the citizens, also when needed. But that need might be to protect them from angry indigenous people/TEDs/Vampires.
Thoughts?
1- Free lancers/contracted personnel
2- Complete mercenary groups
3- Planetary contingents from planets nearer the Frontier
Contracted personnel could be from all walks of life- retired or separated military/RQS veterans, paramilitary troops, etc. Mercenary groups will, I think, begin to play bigger roles once the colonizing begins in earnest, but at the time of the opening there could still be a bad taste in the mouths of the RQS from Antebellum times.
That leaves planetary armed forces. These forces have many advantages, especially those not quite up to the TL13-15 range. They are used to operating at a lower tech level (but still at a higher TL than 99% of the Wilds), and are not dependent on sophisticated operating and weapons systems that can’t be maintained in the environment of the Wilds without significant high tech logistical support. The troops will be used to living in more austere conditions than the TL 14-15 soldier or TL 15 marine (a TL 8 soldier/marine, living in a 20-person tent would feel in heaven if he/she had a dry place to sleep and a stove to keep them warm, while a TL 15 trooper would be horrified if they had to live like that…imagine, having to forage for firewood as a fuel source!). Any higher TL support provided by the Regency would be a bonus to them.
The Regency Senate would find it more palatable to spend the billions spent on the planetary soldiers, as it would be stimulating those economies by funding the logistics, payroll and medical care of the local soldiers and their families (ok, let’s be pragmatic- any $ not going to pay or equip the troops would end up in those Senators’ re-election funds).
I personally like the idea of the planetary forces acting similar to a National Guard, helping to augment the front-line units when needed, and helping the citizens, also when needed. But that need might be to protect them from angry indigenous people/TEDs/Vampires.
Thoughts?
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